Trombolisis endovenosa post reversión de acenocumarol con complejo de protrombina: caso clínico / Intravenous thrombolysis after reversion of acenocoumarol anticoagulation: report of one case

We report an 89-year-old male under oral anticoagulant therapy with a therapeutic international normalized ratio, presenting at the emergency room with right side hemiparesis and aphasia. Neuroimaging was compatible with an acute middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke. Anticoagulation was reverted with the use of four factor prothrombin complex, followed by thrombolysis with alteplase, with a favorable evolution, returning to his basal functional status.

Agrandamiento gingival inducido por medicamentos. Reporte de un caso clínico / Drug-Induced Gingival Enlargement. A Clinical Case Report

Antecedentes: El agrandamiento gingival inducido por medicamentos es una condición clínica frecuente en pacientes que ingieren anticonvulsivos, inmunosupresores y bloqueadores de los canales de calcio. La prevalencia de agrandamiento gingival inducido por medicamentos es del 3 % al 20 % en el grupo de las condiciones gingivales inflamatorias. Todos estos medicamentos producen lesiones clínicas y características histológicas indistinguibles unas de otras, que llegan a afectar la función y la estética de los pacientes afectados. Objetivo: Describir el manejo terapéutico integral y el seguimiento a 12 meses de una paciente con agrandamiento gingival inducido por tacrolimus y amlodipino. Descripción del caso: Una mujer de 22 años con discapacidad mental limítrofe y receptora de trasplante renal se remitió al servicio de Odontología del Hospital Infantil Universitario de San José (Bogotá, Colombia) por presentar agrandamiento gingival. El examen clínico mostró un índice de placa de O'Leary del 84,3 %, in flamación generalizada y bolsas gingivales de 4-6 mm. El equipo de trasplante renal revisó el protocolo de tratamiento periodontal que incluyó: trabajo con la familia para red de apoyo, diseño de un programa personalizado de higiene oral, gingivectomía y mantenimientos periodontales periódicos. Esta estrategia terapéutica permitió reducir el índice de placa y lograr un resultado clínico favorable. Conclusión: La condición sistêmica y psicológica de la paciente requirió desarrollar un plan de tratamiento ajustado a sus necesidades. Pacientes susceptibles deben ser instruidos sobre la importancia de tener prácticas adecuadas de higiene oral y ameritan ser incluidos en programas de mantenimiento periodontal.

Background: Gingival enlargement induced by the use of drugs is a frequent clinical condition in patients who take anticonvulsants, immunosuppressive agents and calcium channel blockers. The gingival enlargement prevalence, as induced by drug use, is from 3% to 20% in the group with inflammatory gingival conditions. All these drugs cause clinical lesions and histological characteristics indistinguishable from one another, which eventually affect the function and aesthetics of the patients. Objective: To describe a comprehensive therapeutic management and the 12-month following in a patient with gingival enlargement induced by the use of tacrolimus and amlodipine. Case Description: A 22 year-old woman with Borderline Personality Disorder who also underwent a kidney transplant was referred to the dental service in the Hospital Infantil Universitario de San José (Bogotá, Colombia) due to gingival enlargement. The clinical examination showed an O'Leary plaque index of 84.3%, extended inflammation and gingival pockets about 4-6 mm. The kidney transplant team checked the periodontal treatment protocol that included: partnering with the family as a support network, design of a customized oral hygiene program, gingivectomy and regular periodontal maintenance. This therapeutic strategy allowed to reduce the plaque index and resulted in a favorable clinical condition. Conclusion: The systemic and psychological status of the patient required to design a treatment plan customized to her needs. Susceptible patients should be educated on how important it is to follow the appropriate oral hygiene practices and are eligible for periodontal maintenance programs.

An economic evaluation of antihypertensive therapies based on clinical trials

OBJECTIVE: Hypertension is a major issue in public health, and the financial costs associated with hypertension continue to increase. Cost-effectiveness studies focusing on antihypertensive drug combinations, however, have been scarce. The cost-effectiveness ratios of the traditional treatment (hydrochlorothiazide and atenolol) and the current treatment (losartan and amlodipine) were evaluated in patients with grade 1 or 2 hypertension (HT1-2). For patients with grade 3 hypertension (HT3), a third drug was added to the treatment combinations: enalapril was added to the traditional treatment, and hydrochlorothiazide was added to the current treatment. METHODS: Hypertension treatment costs were estimated on the basis of the purchase prices of the antihypertensive medications, and effectiveness was measured as the reduction in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure (in mm Hg) at the end of a 12-month study period. RESULTS: When the purchase price of the brand-name medication was used to calculate the cost, the traditional treatment presented a lower cost-effectiveness ratio [US$/mm Hg] than the current treatment in the HT1-2 group. In the HT3 group, however, there was no difference in cost-effectiveness ratio between the traditional treatment and the current treatment. The cost-effectiveness ratio differences between the treatment regimens maintained the same pattern when the purchase price of the lower-cost medication was used. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the traditional treatment is more cost-effective (US$/mm Hg) than the current treatment in the HT1-2 group. There was no difference in cost-effectiveness between the traditional treatment and the current treatment for the HT3 group.

Combinação de anlodipino e enalaprila em pacientes hipertensos com doença coronariana / Combination of amlodipine and enalapril in hypertensive patients with coronary disease / Combinación de amlodipino y enalapril en pacientes hipertensos con enfermedad coronaria

FUNDAMENTO: Pacientes (pts) com doença coronariana (DAC) estável podem se beneficiar de menor pressão arterial (PA), conforme estudos recentes. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia e a tolerabilidade da combinação fixa anlodipino + enalaprila, comparada a anlodipino na normalização da PA diastólica (PAD) (< 85 mmHg), em pts com DAC e HAS. MÉTODOS: Estudo duplo-cego, randomizado, com dois grupos de pts com PAD > 90 e <110 mmHg e DAC. Excluímos os com FEVE < 40%; sintomas de insuficiência cardíaca ou angina classe III e IV; doenças graves e PAD > 110 mmHg durante o wash-out de quatro semanas, em uso só de atenolol. Após wash-out randomizamos para combinação (A) ou anlodipino (B) e seguimos de quatro em quatro semanas até 98 dias. As doses (mg) iniciais foram, respectivamente: A- 2,5/10 e B- 2,5, sendo incrementadas se PAD> 85mmHg, nas visitas. Estatística com χ2, Fischer e análise de variância, para p< 0,05. RESULTADOS:de 110 pts selecionados, randomizamos 72 (A= 32, B= 40). As reduções da PAD e da PA sistólica (PAS) foram intensas (p< 0,01), mas sem diferenças entre os grupos em mmHg: PAS, A (127,7 ± 13,4) e B (125,3 ± 12,6) (p= 0,45) e PAD, A (74,5 ± 6,7 mmHg) e B (75,5 ± 6,7 mmHg) (p= 0,32). Houve menos edema de membros inferiores no A (7,1% vs 30,6%, p=0,02) no 98º dia. CONCLUSÃO: A combinação fixa de enalaprila com anlodipino, tal qual anlodipino isolado, em pts com DAC e HAS estágios I e II foi eficaz na normalização da pressão, adicionando bloqueio ao sistema renina-angiotensina.

BACKGROUND: Patients (pts) with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) can benefit from a decrease in the blood pressure (BP), according to recent studies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the fixed combination: amlodipine + enalapril, when compared to amlodipine in the normalization of the diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) (<85 mmHg), in pts with CAD and systemic arterial hypertension (SAH). METHODS: Double-blind and randomized study, with two groups of pts with DAP >90 and <110 mmHg and CAD. Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40%, symptoms of heart failure or angina class III and IV, severe diseases and DAP >110 mmHg during the four-week wash-out with atenolol treatment alone, were excluded. After the wash-out, pts were randomly distributed for the use of the combination (A) or amlodipine (B) and were followed every four weeks up to 98 days. The initial doses (in mg) were, respectively: A- 2.5/10 and B- 2.5; the doses were increased when DAP > 85mmHg, at the visits. Statistical analysis was carried out with χ2, Fischer and analysis of variance, for p< 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 110 selected pts, 72 (A= 32, B= 40) were randomized. The decreases in DAP and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) were significant (p< 0.01), but with no difference between the groups in mmHg: SAP, A (127.7 ± 13.4) and B (125.3 ± 12.6) (p= 0.45) and DAP, A (74.5 ± 6.7 mmHg) and B (75.5 ± 6.7 mmHg) (p= 0.32). Group A presented a lower incidence of lower-limb edema: (7.1% vs 30.6%, p=0.02) on the 98th day of follow-up. CONCLUSION: The fixed combination of enalapril and amlodipine, as well as isolated amlodipine, was effective in the normalization of BP in pts with CAD and SAH stages I and II, adding blockage of the renin-angiotensin system.

FUNDAMENTO: Pacientes (pts) con enfermedad coronaria (EAC) estable pueden beneficiarse con una menor presión arterial (PA), de acuerdo con estudios recientes. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la eficacia y la tolerancia de la combinación fija amlodipino + enalapril, comparada a el amlodipino en la normalización de la PA diastólica (PAD) (< 85 mmHg), en pts con EAC y HAS. MÉTODOS: Estudio doble ciego, randomizado, con dos grupos de pts con PAD >90 y <110 mmHg y EAC. Excluimos a los pts con FEVI < 40%; síntomas de insuficiencia cardiaca o angina clase III y IV; enfermedades graves y PAD >110 mmHg durante el wash-out de cuatro semanas, en uso sólo de atenolol. Después del wash-out randomizamos para combinación (A) o amlopidino (B) y seguimos de cuatro en cuatro semanas hasta 98 días. Las dosis (mg) iniciales fueron, respectivamente: A- 2,5/10 y B- 2,5, siendo incrementadas si PAD> 85mmHg, en las visitas. Estadística con χ2, Fischer y análisis de varianza, para p< 0,05. RESULTADOS: De un total de 110 pts seleccionados, randomizamos a 72 (A= 32, B= 40). Las reducción de la PAD y de la PA sistólica (PAS) fueron intensas (p< 0,01), pero sin diferencias entre los grupos en mmHg: PAS, A (127,7 ± 13,4) y B (125,3 ± 12,6) (p= 0,45) y PAD, A (74,5 ± 6,7 mmHg) y B (75,5 ± 6,7 mmHg) (p= 0,32). Se registró menos edema de miembros inferiores en el A (7,1 por ciento vs 30,6%, p=0,02) en el 98º día. CONCLUSIÓN: La combinación fija de enalapril con amlodipino, tal como el amlodipino aislado, en pts con EAC y HAS estadios I y II fue eficaz en la normalización de la presión, agregando un bloqueo al sistema renina-angiotensina.

Tratamento da hipertensão arterial com olmesartana medoxomila em escalonamento / Based treatment algorithm for essencial hypertension with olmesartan medoxomil

FUNDAMENTO: As diretrizes nacionais e internacionais enfatizam a importância do tratamento eficaz da hipertensão arterial. Apesar disso, verificam-se baixos índices de controle e alcance das metas preconizadas, indicando que é importante planejar e implementar melhores estratégias de tratamento. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia de um tratamento, em escalonamento de doses, tendo como base a olmesartana medoxomila. MÉTODOS: Este é um estudo aberto, nacional, multicêntrico e prospectivo, de 144 pacientes com hipertensão arterial primária nos estágios 1 e 2, virgens de tratamento ou após período de washout de duas a três semanas para aqueles em tratamento ineficaz. Avaliou-se o uso da olmesartana medoxomila num algoritmo de tratamento, em quatro fases: (i) monoterapia (20 mg), (ii-iii) associada à hidroclorotiazida (20/12,5 mg e 40/25 mg) e (iv) adição de besilato de anlodipino (40/25 mg + 5 mg). RESULTADOS: Ao fim do tratamento, em escalonamento, 86 por cento dos sujeitos de pesquisa alcançaram a meta de pressão arterial (PA) < 130/85 mmHg. Ocorreram reduções na pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) e na pressão arterial diastólica (PAD) de, no máximo, -44,4 mmHg e -20,0 mmHg, respectivamente. A taxa dos respondedores sistólicos (PAS > 20 mmHg) foi de 87,5 por cento e diastólicos (PAD > 10 mmHg) de 92,4 por cento. CONCLUSÃO: O estudo se baseou em um esquema de tratamento semelhante à abordagem terapêutica da prática clínica diária e mostrou que o uso da olmesartana medoxomila, em monoterapia ou em associação a hidroclorotiazida e anlodipino, foi eficaz para o alcance de meta para hipertensos dos estágios 1 e 2.

BACKGROUND: The national and international guidelines emphasize the importance of the effective treatment of essenssial hypertension. Nevertheless, low levels of control are observed, as well as low attainment of the recommended goals, indicating that it is important to plan and implement better treatment strategies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a based treatment algorithm with olmesartan medoxomil. METHODS: This is an open, national, multicentric and prospective study of 144 patients with primary arterial hypertension, stages 1 and 2, naïve to treatment or after a 2-to-3 week washout period for those in whom treatment was ineffective. The use of olmesartan medoxomil was assessed in a treatment algorithm divided into 4 phases: (i) monotherapy (20 mg), (ii-iii) associated to à hydrochlorothiazide (20/12.5 mg and 40/25 mg) and (iv) addition of amlodipine besylate (40/25 mg + 5 mg). RESULTS: At the end of the phased-treatment, 86 percent of the study subjects attained the goal of BP < 130/85 mmHg. Maximum reductions in SAP and DAP were -44.4 mmHg and -20.0 mmHg, respectively. The rate of systolic responders (SAP > 20 mmHg) and of diastolic responders (DAP > 10 mmHg) was 87.5 percent and 92.4 percent, respectively. CONCLUSION: The study was based on a treatment regimen that was similar to the therapeutic approach in daily clinical practice and showed that the use of olmesartan medoxomil in monotherapy or in association with hydrochlorothiazide and amlodipine was effective in the attainment of the recommended goals for hypertension stage 1 and 2 hypertensive individuals.

Essential hypertension

Hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus also tend to coexist. The goal of antihypertensive therapy should consist of reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with hypertension by a strategy focused on lowering blood pressure while minimizing the impact on other associated cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes mellitus. To observe and compare any change in serum glucose in patients with newly diagnosed essential hypertension with Atenolol and Amlodipine. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Basic Medical Science Institute [BMSI], Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre [JPMC], Karachi. 12 weeks [90 days] Patients with newly diagnosed essential hypertension [N=70] were enrolled in this study and were divided into two groups, each comprised of 35 patients and were given tablet Atenolol 150/100mg once daily and tablet Amlodipine 5/10 mg once daily respectively for 90 days. Fasting Blood glucose was measured on day of inclusion i.e. day 0, day 45 and day 90. At each fortnightly visit, blood pressure was recorded. Atenolol raised mean blood glucose levels from baseline levels of 91.82 +/- 1.34 mg/dl to 99.73 +/- 1.33 mg/dl on day 90 [P<0.001] while Amlodipine had no significant effect on blood glucose level [P= N.S]. Atenolol may not be a good choice for essential hypertensive patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus as it is found to impair the normal glucose metabolism. Long term clinical trials in diabetic patients are needed to confirm the observation of the present study

Estudo `LOTHAR`: avaliação de eficácia e tolerabilidade da combinação fixa de anlodipino e losartana no tratamento da hipertensão arterial primária / The `LOTHAR` study: evaluation of efficacy and tolerability of the fixed combination of amlodipine and losartan in the treatment of essential hypertension

OBJETIVO: O estudo LOTHAR avaliou a eficácia, tolerabilidade e os efeitos metabólicos em médio e longo prazo (um ano) da combinação fixa de anlodipino e losartana versus anlodipino e losartana isoladamente. MÉTODOS: Estudo multicêntrico brasileiro, randomizado, duplo-cego e comparativo realizado com 198 pacientes com hipertensão arterial primária em estágios 1 e 2. RESULTADOS: A combinação fixa apresenta alta eficácia anti-hipertensiva que se mantém em longo prazo com percentual reduzido de escape do controle pressórico, inferior a dos dois regimes monoterápicos de comparação. Em longo prazo, mais de 60 por cento dos pacientes tratados com a combinação fixa permaneceram com níveis da PAD < 85 mmHg e o efeito anti-hipertensivo quando avaliado pela MAPA persistiu nas 24 horas com relação vale-pico de 76,7 por cento. A freqüência de eventos adversos foi bastante reduzida neste grupo sendo a incidência em longo prazo de edema de membros inferiores cerca de quatro vezes menor que a observada com o anlodipino isolado. A combinação fixa não alterou os metabolismos da glicose e dos lípides tanto em médio quanto em longo prazos. CONCLUSAO: Estes resultados nos permitem afirmar que a combinação de anlodipino e losartana, a primeira combinação fixa de um antagonista dos canais de cálcio e um bloqueador do receptor da angiotensina II disponível no mercado farmacêutico constitui-se em excelente opção para o tratamento da hipertensão arterial em larga gama de pacientes hipertensos.

Amlodipine-induced gingival hyperplasia.

Gingival hyperplasia can occur during use of drugs such as diphenylhydantoin, cyclosporine and nifedipine. We report, three cases of gingival hyperplasia induced by amlodipine, a second generation calcium channel blocker. Exact cause of induction of thehyperplasia is not known. Individual variation in metabolism of the drug may be a factor.

open non-comparative study of efficacy and toleration of amlodipine in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension in general clinical practice

Forty three patients with a mean age of 46.3 years were selected for this open, non-comparative clinical study to evaluate the efficiency and safety of amlodipine as mono-therapy or in combination in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension. Patients with baseline sitting diastolic blood pressure in the range of 95-114 mmHg entered the base-line run-in-period, after which they went on to a 6 week active phase of the study. In this study, patients received open-label amlodipine at a starting dose of 5 mg/day, which could be adjusted after one week to 10 mg/day if necessary to achieve a sitting diastolic blood pressure

Estudio clínico de eficacia y seguridad de amlodipina en hipertensión arterial / Amlodipine in hypertension: a clinical study of safety and efficacy

Se presenta un estudio prospectivo, abierto, no controlado, realizado para evaluar la eficacia y seguridad de la amlodipina en el tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial esencial. El mismo tuvo dos fases: placebo durante las primeras 2 semanas e intervención farmacológica en las siguientes 12 semanas, con una dosis diaria de 5 a 10 mg de amlodipina oral. Se evaluaron 70 pacientes adultos. La edad promedio fue 59,2 ñ 10,1 (34-84) años, siendo el 74 por ciento de sexo femenino. Veintitrés pacientes (32,9 por ciento) fueron clasificados como hipertensos leves, 41 (58,6 por ciento) como moderados y 6 (8,5 por ciento) como severos. La presión arterial sistólica inicial fue de 161,2 ñ 10,8 y la diastólica de 101,3 ñ 4,2 mmHg, con valores finales de 133,6 ñ 10,7 y 82,5 ñ 5,6 mmHg, respectivamente. Los descensos logrados, -17,1 por ciento y -18,6 por ciento fueron estadísticamente significativos (p<0,05). La hipertensión arterial sistólica se controló exitosamente en el 85,7 por ciento y la diastólica en el 98,6 por ciento de los pacientes. El 65,7 por ciento de los pacientes recibió amlodipina como monoterapia

Experiencia con la amlodipina (Norvasc) en el manejo de la hipertensión arterial / Experience with amlodipine (Norvasc) in the management of arterial hypertension

The authors report the results of therapy with amlodipine in 20 patients with mild or moderate hypertension (diastolic pressure between 95 and 115 mmHg). Amlodopine was administered in a dose of either 5 or 10 mg once a day for 12 weeks. None of the patients had a history of congestive heart failure. Eleven patients were men between 27 and 89 years of age (average age was 52.6 years). There was a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (from 161 to 141 mm Hg or -12.4%) and in diastolic blood pressure (from 103 to 86 mm Hg or -16.5%). Heart rate remained between 78 and 77 beats per minute. Only one patient experienced palpitations and two complained of mild, transient giddiness while on this therapy